ONTARIO JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

Ottawa, November 23, 2006 – The Honourable Vic Toews Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Douglas K. Gray, a lawyer with Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP of Toronto is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario. He replaces Mr. Justice C.M. Speyer (Milton) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Douglas K. Gray r eceived a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto in 1969 and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1971. He articled and practised with the Ministry of the Attorney General for Ontario from 1969 to 1973, then with the law firms of Gray Murray Rahilly (1973-1975), Havrlant Robinson Gray Murray Bateman Saul (1975-1977), Beard Winter (1977-1978) and then with Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP (1978-2006). His practice expertise is in the areas of labour, employment, and administrative law and civil litigation. He is a frequent lecturer for the Ontario Bar Association and Law Society of Upper Canada.

The Honourable Katherine M. van Rensburg , a partner in the Toronto office of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario. She replaces Mr. Justice C.N. Herold ( Brampton) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Katherine M. van Rensburg received a Master of Laws in 1986 from Cambridge University, a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University, Kingston in 1981, and a Bachelor of Arts in 1978 from the University of Toronto ( Victoria College). After clerking with

Mr. Justice William McIntyre of the Supreme Court of Canada, she was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1983. She then practised with Smith Lyons (1983-2001) which merged with Gowlings in 2001. Madam Justice van Rensburg’s practice expertise is in the areas of civil litigation and environmental law, having been certified as a specialist in each by the Law Society of Upper Canada.

The Honourable Harrison S. Arrell, a lawyer with Sullivan Festeryga Lawlor & Arrell in Hamilton, is appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario. He replaces Madam Justice J. Milanetti, ( Brantford), who is to be transferred to Hamilton to replace Mr. Justice W.J. Festeryga who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Harrison S. Arrell received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor in 1974 and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1976. He articled with the firm Agro Cooper in 1974-1975 and then practised with Sullivan Festeryga Lawler & Arrell (1976-2006). In 1997, Mr. Justice Arrell received the Bicentennial Award of Merit from the Law Society of Upper Canada and in 2005 the Lee Samis Award of Excellence from the Canadian Defence Lawyers Association. His practice expertise is in the area of civil litigation. Mr. Justice Arrell has acted as Past President and Director, Canadian Defence Lawyers and as a Past Chair, Crime Stoppers of Hamilton.

The Honourable Renee M. Pomerance, a lawyer with the Crown Law Office - Criminal Division of the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario in Toronto, is appointed judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario. She replaces Mr. Justice R.J. Abbey ( Windsor) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Renee M. Pomerance received a Bachelor of Laws in 1987 and a Bachelor of Science (Honours - with distinction) in 1984 from the University of Toronto and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1989. She practised with Crown Law Office - Criminal, Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario (1989-2006) with leaves of absence to act as counsel to the Honourable Peter Cory during his involvement in the Weston Park Inquiry in the United Kingdom (2002-2003), and to act as Senior Advisor at the National Judicial Institute, Ottawa (2003-2004). Madam Justice Pomerance’s practice expertise is in the areas of criminal law, constitutional law, and judicial education.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref:

Mike Storeshaw
Director of Communications
Minister’s Office
(613) 992-4621